The Futility of Nations

Jarl Jensen | March 19, 2019

“Until the control of the issue of currency and credit is restored to government and recognized as its most conspicuous and sacred responsibility, all talks of the sovereignty of Parliament and of democracy is idle and futile.” – William Lyon Mackenzie King 1874-1950

There is no shortage of effort by politicians and governments around the world to do good, to fix our problems, and pursue a better world. Yet, the earth is warming, the oceans are dying, deserts are expanding, forests are burning, the ice caps are melting, sea levels are rising, storms are monstrous, heat waves are longer and hotter — people are dying.

Just turn on the news and there it is, another catastrophic event.

It takes years to put a rather insignificant treaty like the Paris Climate Agreement together. It surely is a step in the right direction, but it is not enough to save us from the predictions that scientists are forecasting with very high mathematical confidence.

Why is it that the people in charge — our national leaders — can do so little to influence our future? After all, these are the most powerful people in the world. If they can’t bring about real change, then who can?

Solving for Pollution

What about a more simple problem like plastic pollution?

Massive amounts of plastics are floating around our oceans, filling up landfills, washing up on beaches, killing wildlife, and entering our food supply in the form of microplastics.

However, there is neither the will nor the capacity to make the changes the world needs.

The State of Health Care

Another example is health care. Many countries have adopted a single payer system that has controlled costs and outcomes. The truth is that the modern lifestyle is making people sick and all governments can hope to do is to treat the sick.

Governments do not have the power to keep people healthy because modern governments do not influence people’s lifestyle.

Lifestyle is a choice — but then so are sidewalks, walking streets, and bicycle lanes. Clean air and clean water are necessary for a healthy lifestyle, but governments are often left making difficult decisions.

For example, a new plastics factory creates many jobs, but it’s plastic product winds up in landfills, beaches and oceans.

A new highway will bring more people and more business, but it will also pollute the air and make bicycle lanes impossible.

Governments Constrained by Banks

Governments are constrained by their tax revenues on both a local and national level. They are also constrained by their past, present, and future debts. Most governments can only accomplish large projects through the issuance of debt.

Like it or not, the American economy has been privatized. The issuance of currency is primarily for the needs of the financial system — aka the banks. This may not seem important to most people, but it is. Since nations are deciding that they can not afford to address climate change, pollution, or healthcare because of the financial constraints being applied by the banking system.

In the year 1944, the Bretton Woods Agreement basically conceded the world’s nation’s sovereignty to an international banking system. Government’s in the past were not very good at controlling the issuance of currency. Many countries caused hyperinflation, bankruptcies, and perhaps limited economic growth. That’s why nations all around the world gave up their sovereignty many years ago. But that was a long time ago and with today’s technology and knowledge it’s possible to do much better.

After over 100 years of banks controlling the American and global economy, it’s past time to discuss the lackluster performance of the status quo. Nations and their people are suffering under restrictions put in place by a financial system that prioritizes their business model over the future of the planet, cities, towns, and peoples’ lives.

How Can You Help?

The first step is for you to educate yourself about how our economy works. Knowledge is how we can start addressing the problems we face together as a nation.

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